If it wasn’t for the drawl, y’all, we would have thought we were in Milano, Firenze or Lago di Como, not Montgomery, Texas. While the folks may be local, this elegant tower on the lake is pure world class.

The Tower

Prominently located on Lake Conroe, approximately 60 miles north of Houston and 140 miles from Austin, La Torretta Del Lago Resort & Spa dwarfs all other hostelries in the area. Entering from the highway is a long driveway taking you past the golf course, specialty villas, spa, water park, conference center and Chez Roux to the hotel’s modern entryway. Inside, the Italian influences are apparent in the design scheme. You sense the opulence that Noble House management knows is essential for its fashionable clientele.

La Torretta Lounge

La Torretta Lobby

Checking in was fast and pleasant, and we were whisked off to our golf villa by cart, where we stayed with our dog, Boomer. He loved the proximity to the golf course and the frolicking squirrels teasing him just outside our windows. We loved the views and openness of our spacious quarters that included separate bedroom, living and dining rooms. In addition to the Golf Villas, there are Lake Front Villas with private piers for boat travelers. Handy, when carrying your clubs on your yacht.

Golf Villa Bedroom

Most visitors will stay in the all-suite Tower accommodations, that include 42” TV’s, free wi-fi, soft linens and balconies overlooking the lake. Even in the middle of Texas, a sunrise over the water is an exhilarating experience and worth waking early to see.

For travelers who don’t like rising at dawn, the list of activities at La Torretta Del Lago Resort & Spa is practically endless. For the kids, and adults alike, the Aqua Park will likely be the first stop.

With two adult-sized pools, “BreezeBuster,” “SplashScape” and “Lazy River” (a meandering wave-powered stream that you cruise on an inner tube), this is the place for those hot summer days. Poolside chaises and outdoor bars ensure adult delight. When we visited, temperatures in the 30’s prevented swimming, water skiing or boating. Sure, we’re spoiled by the southern California climate, but we didn’t see any Texans out there either! Next winter we’ll bring our wetsuits.

Lay-Z River

Speaking of water, Lake Conroe’s 22,000 acres is a fisherman’s haven and La Torretta is a boater’s paradise with its own 300-slip marina and fuel dock. Guests can rent boats and jet skis, if they didn’t bring their own.

Lake Conroe La Torretta Marina

If a day boating around the lake, playing tennis or multi-rounds of golf on the newly redesigned Jeffrey D. Blume course is not enough activity for you, there is the Fitness Center, available to guests 24/7. This is not your typical hotel sweat-room, but a full featured 10,000 sq. ft. fitness facility with racquetball courts and all the bells and whistles of the best gyms. Dennis liked going in after the incredible meals we ate and burning off some of the calories while watching his inspiration - Governor Schwarzenegger - on the TV wall.

SpaTerre at La Torretta Del Lago Resort is truly Texas-sized at 17,000 square feet and features 20 treatment rooms, relaxing Shiatsu Massage chairs and a Zen-inspired garden in the center of the Relaxation Lounge. Marilyn’s three hours at the spa included a traditional Swedish massage and relaxing afterwards in the steamy, eucalyptus-filled Hamam. There are facilities for men and women with services including facials, manicures, pedicures and massages. A resort special is the couples massage.

We only had time to try Prime's breakfast buffet and La Torretta’s signature restaurant, Chez Roux (reviewed in a separate article). Both are stand-out eateries, and your stay should include both.

The breakfast buffet at Prime exceeded our expectations with regard to the quality and variety of its offerings, and equals those in the best hotels in Las Vegas, where the gourmet all-you-can-eat meal is an art form.

How do you like your eggs? Scrambled, poached, omelet, Frittata? It doesn’t matter; the duty chef will prepare them for you. Do you want Belgian Waffles, BBQ ham, thick smoked bacon, biscuits and gravy, sausage, or chicken-fried pork chops? No problem, it’s all there for you. How about a huge just-out-of-the-oven roast beef, dripping in a luscious au jus? Carvers are waiting to serve you. Do you prefer fresh fruits and salads brimming over with perfectly ripened blackberries, blueberries, strawberries, mango and more? Yes, all here and ready to be adorned with fresh cream, real whipped cream or brown sugar.

Buffet Choices

If you have room, mosey on over to the dessert table, brimming with cakes, pies, pastries, gelato, fresh berries and petits fours. All lovingly made at the hotel and all scrumptious. Trust us, we tasted most of them! The Yule Log Cake was particularly interesting. Not only was it a delicious treat for the palate, it was a festive feast for the eyes. Each chocolate log is adorned with a little tree of thyme covered with sugar to look all sparkly and is surrounded by snowy whipped cream, white mushroom cap with chocolate bottom and cranberry ornaments.

Dessert Sampler

Neither effort nor ingredients are spared at La Torretta’s Prime to provide its guests with the best. At $26 per person, it’s practically a bargain. We loved it so much, we visited for breakfast twice. Gluttons? Perhaps, but we prefer to think of ourselves simply as enthusiastic foodies.

You won’t need a passport to indulge yourself in all the top echelon amenities and facilities available to you at La Torretta. All you need is a road map and you will find Italian hospitality at it’s finest on Lake Conroe, deep in the heart of Texas.